Re: A couple of questions...CRUISE CONTROL WOES

["Kevin Krane" <kkrane@en.com>]

I had a bad front end accident with my 1998 GLX and the cruise didn't work
after the car was repaired.  When I took it back it was a vacuum line.  Good
luck with your problem and let us know what it was, when you find the
source.

Kevin

2001 . Volkswagen Jetta GLX . Black
2001 . Volvo S40 . Silver

----- Original Message -----
From: "Seth Balsam" <seth.balsam@prefer.net>
To: <jettaglx@igtc.com>; <rtmeikle@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 11:21 AM
Subject: RE: A couple of questions...CRUISE CONTROL WOES


> Rob, List,
>
> The cruise control uses a vacuum pump to acuate the throttle.  I have
> heard of cases where supposedly battery acid eats through one of the
> vacuum lines, thereby causing issues with the system.  Then again, your
> recent accident might have had something to do with this issue; think
> about when the problem started.  It could be that the shop that rebuilt
> your front end crimped or nicked a vacuum line, if it wasn't already
> damaged.
>
> I recently had to replace the cruise control ecu on my 94 GLX.  I had
> problems with sporadic operation and finally sat down one Saturday
> afternoon to diagnose it.  The Bentley manual (the best $45 I ever spent
> on the car, IMHO) has a two-page diagnostic process that's comprehensive
> yet very, very simple.  The twenty minutes involved with removing the
> driver's under-dash cover, pulling the cruise control ecu down, and
> using the harness connector to test the various system components (stalk
> switches, pedal switches, speed sensor, vacuum pump, etc) are well
> spent.  Tools needed:  screwdriver, 10mm and 13mm wrenches, and two
> pieces of wire.  No more, no less.
>
> I called around and found that a new ecu runs approximately $350 from
> the dealer.  Used from recyclers they're approximately $50-75; I wound
> up with a used one from a friend that operates perfectly.  I have no
> clue what the other components cost.
>
> Contact me off-list if you have other questions.
>
> Good luck.
> Seth
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 08:53:04 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Rob Meikle <rtmeikle@yahoo.com>
> Subject: A couple of questions...(Kinda' LONG)
>
> Hey, I thought maybe one of you could help me out with
> these questions:
>
> 1st: My cruise control has been only sporadically
> working lately.  I took it to my mechanic, who first
> said that he'd need to order a part to fix it (a
> pump?)  Then, he called back later and told me he'd
> found a vaccuum leak that he was going to glue.  He
> said that usually works, and that it might save me the
> price of the new part.  I picked up the car and it
> seemed to be working fine at first, but then the
> intermittent problem came back.  Any  advice?  BTW,
> the mechanic didn't charge me anything for gluing
> it...
>
> <snip>